Virat will learn from mistakes, says Shastri
MUMBAI:Former India coach Ravi Shastri has backed skipper Virat Kohli to come out stronger from his struggle with the bat against Australia. Expected to dominate , Kohli surprisingly had a below par series, aggregating just 46 runs in five innings.
“He is young. He will learn on the job. He will learn from mistakes,” said Shastri, who had a great rapport with Kohli during his time as coach. “Smith is young but he admitted to his mistake,” said Shastri, speaking at an event to announce his new role as advisor for training initiatives
of Greycells Education.
PUJARA CONTRACT Shastri criticised the contract amounts paid to India players, especially to Test specialists like Cheteshwar Pujara. The batsman topped season’s aggregate with 1300-plus runs, but has no takers in the IPL, thus limiting his earnings compared to his teammates.
The Committee of Administrators has raised payments for Grade A cricketers to ~2 crore, but Shastri is not impressed. “It’s nothing, ~2 crore is peanuts. How much is an Australian (top player) getting, ~8 crore?
“I know it has been doubled, but the grade contracts of a Test player should be massive, Pujara should be the highest paid, on a par with the top players (in world cricket).”
“Pujara should get a massive amount, (so that) he is not bothered whether he plays IPL or not.”
PLAYERS ARE HUMAN
The gruelling schedule of 13 Tests has taken its toll with many top players reporting injured. “(I am) not surprised, they are human beings, rocket fuel
(you can’t make them run on rocket fuel).”
“It has got bigger every year. I thought it was biggest last year and I won’t be surprised if No 10 isn’t the biggest.
“A new talent will come that will take all you guys by storm. Suddenly, he might be India material. All these guys, Jadeja, (Hardik) Pandya, did well in the IPL to again come back into focus when they were not doing well.
“If you want Test to survive, you need one cash card (T20).”